Pullulate

Long before the series The Last of Us premiered on HBO, Jess Riva Cooper’s work was already pulsating with parasitic plants blooming from orifices and body parts. Her use of lush flora decoration and juicy glazes is compelling and repelling, revealing a darker narrative that sends shivers up your spine. With an affection for the strange and mysterious and a love for growing things, she came to understand that Mother Nature may be a beautiful goddess, but not a benign one – she also possesses a volatile and creepy side. Cooper’s platters are mashups of ceramic tropes (florals and figurines) and styles ranging from pre-Renaissance to Victorian. Curated by Melanie Egan.